Grants will help boost projects in five Dakota County cities

From public gathering spots for farmers markets to riverfront improvements, five cities in Dakota County will split more than $1 million in grants for redevelopment, officials said this week. The grants -- ranging from $15,000 to $250,000 -- were awarded by the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) to encourage community revitalization in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Hastings, Lakeville and Rosemount, according to Mark Ulfers, executive director of the CDA.

The redevelopment projects are expected to attract new businesses to the communities, create an estimated 60 new jobs and help retain businesses that now provide more than 250 jobs.

The $1,015,000 in project grants will leverage nearly $13 million in additional investments, officials said. Another $40,000 is being awarded in planning grants.

THE PROJECTS:

Apple Valley: $250,000 to relocate underground utilities needed for office expansion and construction of a training facility by one of the city's largest manufacturing firms, Uponor, which makes PEX plumbing, radiant heating and fire protection systems.

Burnsville: $250,000 for correction of soil concerns at the former AAA land in the Heart of the City redevelopment project, where a parking structure is planned.

Hastings: $250,000 for infrastructure improvements on the Downtown Riverfront Redevelopment, which are needed for development on surrounding property, including park improvements, a farmers market, commercial space and housing.

Lakeville: $200,000 for street and infrastructure improvements for the city's first downtown public parking lot in Market Place Park at Holyoke and 208th Street. This will include a public gathering place and a permanent location for a farmers market.

Rosemount: $65,000 to help demolish five homes in order to improve parking and storm-water management around St. Joseph's Church. A new downtown gathering space that may evolve into a cultural and arts center is planned for the site.

"The grant funding from Dakota County CDA will allow the city of Lakeville to construct a public parking lot and streetscaped area that will become a public gathering place in our downtown," said David Olson, the city's community and economic development director.

FOR REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING, three smaller grants:

Apple Valley will receive $15,000 to study transit designs along Cedar Avenue, and to provide guidance and standards for future planning proposals.

Burnsville will receive $15,000 to help implement a plan for environmental standards throughout the city departments.

Rosemount will get $10,000 to study ways to make Central Park more visible and to enable better parking and access.

Joy Powell • 952-882-9017